The HTA will pay the NFL $4 million — the same amount paid under the two-year contract that expired recently — to host the 2013 game, which will be televised on NBC at Aloha Stadium Jan. 27.

New Orleans, which is hosting the 2013 Super Bowl the following week, had been considered as an alternate site for the annual all-star game.

NFL officials said the game’s return to Hawaii — which had been in limbo since it was played at Aloha Stadium in January — was influenced by the players.

“The players have made it clear through the NFL Players Association that they would like the opportunity to continue to play the Pro Bowl in Hawaii,” NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson said in a statement. “We will support the players on this initiative to improve the Pro Bowl.”

Up until Wednesday, NFL officials declined to say whether the game would even be played next year, leading to speculation that it was considering scrapping the event altogether.

Anderson said the league has had discussions with the players about the quality of the Pro Bowl game, which “has not been up to NFL standards.”

“We look forward to working with the players toward the goal of improving the competitiveness of this season’s game,” he said.

HTA President and CEO Mike McCartney said in a statement that the HTA had been conducting ongoing discussions with the NFL, leading up to Wednesday’s announcement.

“Together, we are committed to improving the quality of the game and overall experience, and are working to expand the Pro Bowl both in the Hawaiian Islands, as well as in Asia,” McCartney said. “Beyond Hawaii’s shores, we look forward to assisting the NFL in expanding upon their relationships in Japan, and help them to establish a presence in China — both important markets for Hawaii tourism.”

The HTA has an office in China, but details of the arrangement have yet to be worked out, Mike Story, the HTA’s tourism brand and sports manager, told PBN.

The 2012 Pro Bowl, which was played Jan. 29, generated an economic impact of $25.3 million for Hawaii, the HTA said.